Denver Nuggets' Wilson Chandler (R) is blocked by Chicago Bulls' Carlos Boozer during the first half of their NBA basketball game in Chicago, Illinois, March 18, 2013. REUTERS/Jim Young (UNITED STATES - Tags: SPORT BASKETBALL)

Denver Nuggets' Andre Iguodala (L) goes to the basket against Chicago Bulls' Joakim Noah during the second half of their NBA basketball game in Chicago, Illinois March 18, 2013. REUTERS/Jim Young

Late in Monday night’s overtime, the Chicago fans chanted an expletive that included their team’s name, following a controversial call that led to the Nuggets’ 12th consecutive victory, tying the longest win streak for Denver since it joined the NBA in 1976.

With 1.7 seconds left, Marco Belinelli’s baseline floater appeared to be going down toward the basket when Chicago’s Joakim Noah tapped the ball in. Goaltending was the call and the Nuggets got the ball. That essentially clinched the win for Denver, 119-118 at the United Center.

“From my angle, it looked like it was a good play, it looked like the ball was short,” said angered Bulls coach Tom Thibodeau, who also was upset that an earlier tip-in by Denver’s Kosta Koufos wasn’t called for basket interference. “Koufos’ play, I asked them why they didn’t review it. Clearly it was on the rim. And they told me that because they didn’t make the (goaltending) call, they couldn’t review it. They have video stuff to make sure they get it right. … They’re tough calls, bang-bang, but I don’t understand why one is reviewable and one isn’t.”

Meanwhile, Denver coach George Karl said, “I don’t think there’s any question it was (interference on Noah) — that ball was going to hit the rim. There was no question in my mind. On the Koufos one, that one was too far from me (to see).”

It was in the spring of 1982 when the Nuggets last won a dozen straight. Their best ABA winning streak was 15 games in 1969-70, when they were known as the Rockets.

Down two points Monday with less than 10 ticks left in overtime, Nuggets guard Andre Miller found himself suffocated by two defenders. So he somehow tossed the ball to Andre Iguodala, who made a 3-pointer that gave Denver a 119-118 lead with 7.1 seconds remaining.

Iguodala, an Illinois native who grew up rooting for the Bulls, stomped with authority toward the bench after producing the biggest shot of his Denver career.

“A play like that happened in regulation, but Wilson Chandler had the ball, and Noah didn’t leave the paint,” Iguodala said. “I had a shot, I was open, but the shot clock was going down and Wilson had to get a shot off. So I told myself if it happened again, I’d stay in place. The opportunity presented itself again, and Andre Miller, he’ll find you.”

The opposite thing happened in regulation.

With the score 105-105 and 13.4 seconds remaining, Denver went for the win, basically the same way it did against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Ty Lawson dribbled on the right wing, watched the seconds slip off the clock and hoisted a jumper. But he missed badly, unlike his glorious game-winner against the Thunder.

The Bulls, with the momentum, jumped to an early four-point lead in overtime. But Denver responded and came up big when it counted most.

“I’m proud of the way they stayed strong, down four points in overtime,” Karl said of his players. “Making shots, making plays at the end, it was a pretty classy job.”

Monday’s game featured an outrageously awesome night from Chandler, Denver’s backup forward who played his college ball at nearby DePaul.

Chandler tied his career high with 35 points.

He made 13-of-21 shots and also grabbed nine rebounds, bulldozing his sturdy frame into the paint time and again.

Chandler is averaging 11.2 points for the season, but he had averaged 14.1 points in his previous 10 games.

In the Nuggets’ previous game against the Bulls, Chandler scored 24 points in nearly 19 minutes, doing so on 8-of-9 shooting.

This all set the stage for Monday’s performance.

“This is a sign that we’re confident that we can beat anybody and win games in different ways,” Karl said.

Nuggets Recap

What you might have missedPoint guard Ty Lawson was not himself, playing hesitantly and finishing minus-12 for the game. … Denver had 30 fast-break points. Chicago had only eight. … Joakim Noah had a monster game for the Bulls, finishing with 14 points, 12 rebounds, six assists and seven blocked shots. … JaVale McGee made a surreal slam, with his hand way above the rim before dunking.

Benjamin Hochman was a sports columnist for The Denver Post until August 2015 before leaving for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, his hometown newspaper. Hochman previously worked for the New Orleans Times-Picayune, winner of two Pulitzer Prizes for its Hurricane Katrina coverage. Hochman wrote the Katrina-themed book “Fourth and New Orleans,” published in 2007.

More in Sports

Over the course of the pursuit of a prep wrestling championship four-peat, there always seems to be a defining match or two that either makes or breaks the chance at joining the most exclusive club in the sport.